Beverage dispenser having a coin reject mechanism controlled by carbon dioxide pressure



March 27, 1951 GMAN 254,79

E. S. WE BEVERAGE DISPENSER HAVING A COIN REJECT MECHANISM CONTROLLED BY CARBON DIOXIDE PRESSURE Filed Aug. 15', 1945 COIN BOX.

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iNVENTOR EVERT S. WEGMAN I ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEVERAGE DISPENSER HAVING ACOIN REJECT MECHANISM CONTROLLED BY CARBON DIOXIDE PRESSURE Evert S. Wegman, East Longmeadow, .Mass assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa.,-;a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 611K510 oxide cylinder.

The invention'i's particularly intended for use in such a system where the dispensing of the beverage is initiated by a coin-controlled mechanlsm.

In beverage dispensing systems using carbon dioxide pressure as the energy source for dispensing the beverage components, the dispensing mechanism is nicely adjusted to dispense selected quantities in a predetermined time interval. The quantity dispensed in this interval is dependent upon a predetermined carbon dioxide pressure. Should the pressure be less, an inferior drink results.

The present invention, therefore, has for its main object the provision of a means responsive to the carbon dioxide pressure for rejecting coins from the coin-operated mechanism in the event the carbon dioxide pressure falls below that necessary to produce a satisfactory beverage.

This and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic representation of a beverage dispensing system embodying one form of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a beverage dispensing system embodying an alternative form of the invention.

In Fig. 1, i9 denotes a carbonator supplied with water from a conduit H nd with carbon dioxide from a conduit 12. Carbonated water is dispensed from the carbonator through a valved nozzle 13, the valve of which is controlled by an electric solenoid l4. Syrup stored in a tank I5 is dispensed in measured quantities by a pump I6, which pump is selectively actuated by carbon dioxide pressure supplied through a conduit ll when solenoid-controlled valve I8 in the carbon dioxide line is opened. When the solenoid valve 18 is deenergized, the carbon dioxide pressure on the pump is vented to the atmosphere.

In practice, the solenoid valves is and iii are synchronised to open when a normally open switch is disposed in a suitable chute 23 is influenced to close by the passage of a suitable coin. The closing of the valves is caused by deenergizing the respective solenoids in response to .2 Claims. (Cl. .194-3) syrup in a selected time.

a'suitable timing device (not shown). The :tim-

ing device is set to permit the delivery of predetermined quantities of carbonated water and Obviously, the quantities delivered in that time will be influenced :by the carbon dioxide pressure prevailing in "the carbonator and on the syruppump.

Now the carbon dioxide pressure is derived from cylinder of 'gasiunder pressure as shown at 2|. This pressure is extremely high,and it is desirable that it be. regulated to :a suitable operating pressure, say sixty pounds, by a pressure regulator 22. Should the pressure in the system drop much below that selected, as by exhaustion of the cylinder or a defect in the regulator, the nice balance of the system will be destroyed and an inferior drink dispensed. To guard against this contingency, I provide a means for rejecting a. coin if the carbon dioxide pressure is lower than required.

The device in Fig. 1 comprises a pressure-responsive diaphragm 23 connected to the carbon dioxide line beyond the pressure regulator and controlling electrical contacts 24 for making and breaking a circuit from line conductor L1 through conductor 25, contacts 24, conductor 26, electromagnet 27 and conductor 28 to line conductor L2. The electromagnet 21 is energized only as long as the proper carbon dioxide pressure prevails on the diaphragm 23. When so energized, its core is drawn up against the pull of a spring 29 to tilt pivoted finger 30 out of the path of a coin falling through chute 20, so that the coin may engage switch !9 to start the dispensing cycle. If the pressure is too low, however, the contacts 24 separate to deenergize the electromagnet 21, whereupon spring 29 rocks finger 30 to the position shown in Fig. 1, so that a coin dropped in the slot at the upper end of the chute is defiected to the coin return chute 3| from which it may be retrieved by the customer.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the coinrejecting finger 32 is maintained in retracted position by a pressure-operated diaphragm 33 when the carbon dioxide pressure is adequate, and is biased to the coin-rejecting position, as shown in that figure, by a spring 34 when the pressure drops below the minimum.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the inventiion provides a simple construction for protecting the customer against the dispensing of an inferior drink in apparatus of the type dependent on controlled carbon dioxide pressure for performing the dispensing operation.

3 Obviously the deflector might be so arranged as to positively prevent insertion of the coin into the entrance of the chute 20, in which case the return chute 3| would be unnecessary.

In the claims, the term accepted coin chute is used to denote any portion of chute 20 beyond which the coin cannot be rejected or refused by the apparatus.

While the invention has been shown in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In coin-controlled apparatus for dispensing a beverage under carbon dioxide pressure, the combination of a container for beverage to be dispensed, a container for carbon dioxide under pressure, means for regulating the pressure applied to said beverage container from said carbon dioxide container, a chute in which coins are accepted for'causing the dispensing of beverage from the container, a deflector for controlling passage of a coin into said chute, and means responsive to the carbon dioxide pressure between said pressure-regulating means and said beverage container for controlling said coin deflector.

2. In coin-controlled apparatus for dispensing a beverage under carbon dioxide pressure, the combination of a container for beverage to be dispensed, a container for carbon dioxide under pressure, means for regulating the pressure applied to said beverage container from said carbon dioxide container, a chute in which coins are accepted for causing the dispensing of beverage from the container, a deflector for controlling passage of a coin into said chute, and means responsive to the carbon dioxidepressure between said pressure-regulating means and said beverage container for controlling said coin deflector, said last-named means including a device responsive to said carbon dioxide pressure, an electrical circuit controller operated by said device, and an electromagnet controlled by said circuit controller, said electromagnet being operatively connected to said deflector.

EVERT S. WEGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED? The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,240,321 Dickinson Sept. 18, 1917 1,495,049 Walters May 20, 1924 1,700,277 Baker Jan. 29, 1929 1,723,081 Schantz Aug. 6, 1929 2,075,989 Jonneret et a1. Apr. 6, 1937 2,285,435 Holcomb June 9, 1942 2,390,535 Higham Dec. 11, 1945 

